Short Abstract:

Methodological and ethical questions regarding AI tools in ethnography remain unexplored. This panel convenes anthropologists, technologists, and designers to explore the production & dissemination of ethnographic knowledge offering insight into ethnography in the age of artificial intelligence.

Long Abstract:

In "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction", Walter Benjamin argues that mechanical reproduction transforms our relationship with art by altering its accessibility, perception, value, and overall experience, fundamentally changing its "aura" (Benjamin, 1935). Similarly, ethnography has been significantly influenced by the technologies of its production and reproduction. These advancements have both enriched and complicated the field, mediating its core nature.

From debates on description and author reflexivity (Clifford & Marcus) to the rise of digital platforms (Pink et al., 2015), and from photographic and documentary artifacts (Banks, 2001) to virtual reality practices (Boellstorff, 2012), anthropologists have consistently adapted to evolving tools and methodologies. The capacity to produce, reproduce, and disseminate ethnographic knowledge presents both opportunities and challenges for the discipline.

In the age of artificial intelligence, these questions have become even more pressing. Technologies like ChatGPT and Midjourney have introduced new concerns about bias, authorship, accuracy, and methodology, reshaping the landscape of ethnographic practice. AI holds the potential to transform ethnography, whether as a collaborative tool or through expert systems trained on vast datasets. It can enhance aspects such as multimodal analysis, automating diverse data examination, and streamlining research, thereby providing deeper insights into cultural phenomena.

However, significant methodological and ethical questions about the power and impact of these tools remain unexplored. This panel will bring together anthropologists, technologists, and designers to examine the implications for the production, dissemination, and the "aura" of ethnographic knowledge in the age of artificial intelligence. [abstract written with AI assistant]

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